What VPN Works Best with Tunnelblick?

Recently, I’ve been trying out a lot of VPNs and services, and for the most part, I’ve found them to be pretty decent. Some of them have had a few hiccups along the way, but nothing major. There are a few standout products that are worth checking out if you’re in the market for a VPN. Let’s dive into the data to see which VPNs work best with Tunnelblick.

OpenVPN

First off, let’s talk about OpenVPN. I’ve been using this one for a while now, and it still remains one of my all-time favorite VPNs. If you’re looking for a no-frills solution that just keeps your connection secure, OpenVPN is the way to go. It’s been around for a while, and it’s proven itself to be reliable and highly secure. Not to mention the fact that it’s open-source, which further demonstrates its transparency. While you may encounter a slightly higher price point with this one, it’s definitely well worth it.

With OpenVPN, you get the traditional features that most VPNs offer – including a kill switch that stops your internet connection from being unexpectedly interrupted. There’s also the option of a kill switch for the VPN connection itself, in case you want to ensure that your sensitive data is always protected. Another great thing about OpenVPN is the wide range of supported platforms, from Mac to Linux, from iOS to Android, and even from Windows 10! It is truly multi-platform, and it supports a ton of protocols, from UDP to TCP, and more. This one is a clear winner, as far as I’m concerned.

PPTP & L2TP

Moving along, we have PPTP and L2TP, which are the two other most common types of VPNs. PPTP stands for Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, whereas L2TP stands for Layer Two Tunneling Protocol. What this means in plain English is that these VPN types utilize a point-to-point connection, meaning that data is only transferred between endpoints, and not over the entire network as in the case with TCP/IP – or in other words, they tunnel layers two and three, respectively, instead of the typical one and four. This form of VPN provides a good balance between security and speed – something that you may want to consider if you’re planning on using this type of VPN for sensitive information, such as banking details or anything pertaining to your health.

Both PPTP and L2TP are considered to be more secure than OpenVPN, however, they are less efficient and a little more complicated to setup and use. If you happen to run into problems, you may find help online, but the general consensus is that you’re better off avoiding these two VPN types, if possible.

IKEv2

Now let’s talk about IKEv2, which is the Internet Key Exchange version 2 protocol. If you’re into the crypto scene, you may have heard of this protocol, as it’s often used in conjunction with cryptographic protocols, such as PPTP and L2TP. What this means in plain English is that data is secured using end-to-end encryption, which is great if you’re looking for a trustworthy and highly secure VPN. It also supports a variety of cryptographic algorithms, including the SHA-2 family of hashes, as well as a few different types of encryption, including AES, triple-DES, and RSA. This one has quickly become my default recommendation, as it’s proven itself to be absolutely reliable and very secure.

What I like most about IKEv2 is that it’s open-source, which means that you have full control over the security of your data. There’s also the option of using either a hardware or a software-based cipher key, which you can consider to be a nice extra layer of security.

If you decide to go with the hardware-based key, you can rest assured that it will remain secret, as it is not stored in any form on your behalf. A hardware key may also be generated locally on your device, which ensures that no one else will be able to access your account, even if they have physical access to your computer or mobile phone. If you prefer a software-based key, you can use Truecrypt along with IKEv2 to keep your passwords and other important data encrypted, which in turn makes it much harder for anyone to access your account even if they get hold of your computer or phone. I’m a big fan of Truecrypt, and it’s definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for a secure VPN.

IPSec

We now arrive at IPSec, or Internet Protocol Security. If you’re looking for a more advanced and complicated option, this is the type of VPN that you may want to consider. If data is encrypted using IPSec, it prevents any snooping by network intermediaries, such as your Internet service provider (ISP). As the name implies, IPSec is used to provide security over IP spaces, not just tunneled connections, and it can do so using several cryptographic protocols, including DES, 3DES, and more recently, AES. This one also supports a variety of authentication methods, including PAP, PYP, and RADIUS, as well as several different key exchange protocols, including the newer SHA-2 family of hashes, SRP, and EAP. It also offers optional firewall protection and can run on almost all platforms, from Mac to Linux, from iOS to Android, and even on Windows 10!

IPSec is an older protocol, originally designed to protect against electronic eavesdropping. As the years went by and computing power increased, so too did the need for an encrypted connection that could protect against active attacks, such as Man-in-the-Middle – or MiTM – type attacks, in addition to passive attacks, such as traffic analysis, DNS spoofing, and more. It didn’t take long before VPNs began using IPSec alongside other protocols, such as PPTP and OpenVPN, to provide the best of both worlds: the speed of OpenVPN and the security of IPSec.

DTLS& SST

DTLS, or Datagram TLS, is a protocol that provides a similar service to that of IPSec, however, it was designed for UDP-based connections rather than IP-based ones. What this means in plain English is that DTLS utilizes a TLS – Transport Layer Security – connection to ensure data integrity and authentication – two services that TLS provides – and it can also be used to provide data confidentiality, if you’re also using a MAC address for authentication. This one is also a good choice for gamers and others who need to prevent identity theft by hackers, as it offers additional security features, such as Perfect Forward Secrecy and a Shared Secret, which you can use to create a strong bond between your computer and VPN, providing added protection against phishing, malware, and other types of attacks.

It’s also worth noting that SST, or Stream Switching Technology, is built on top of DTLS. Although this one isn’t necessarily used for encrypting data, it’s often partnered with various VPN protocols, including PPTP and OpenVPN, to ensure that data is always transferred over a secure connection, whether it’s for a quick email or Facebook exchange, or for a business transaction, such as online shopping.

L2TP& MPPE& SNIPSEC

Next up we have L2TP and Multiprotocol Label Protocol (MPLP), or Streamlined Network Inter-connect Protocol (SNIPE), which is a Cisco proprietary technology that provides strong authentication, perfect forward secrecy, and more. This is a combination of L2TP and MPPE, which are both protocols designed for point-to-point connections only. L2TP stands for Layer Two Tunneling Protocol, while MPPE stands for Multi-Protocol Encapsulation Security.

MPLP is generally used for creating virtual private networks (VPNs) over dial-up connections, while SNIPE is often deployed for creating VPNs over long-haul, physical networks. L2TP is still widely used, and it has proven itself to be quite secure and versatile, which makes it a good fit for most situations. It is often used in combination with IPSec and OpenVPN.

Let’s move along now to our last and final type of VPN, which is…